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Trade up or down ... stay put? Jerry Jones hints at what Cowboys might do in first round
IRVING Jerry Jones made it clear Tuesday. Sure, he ultimately has triumph privileges in the Cowboys war room. But thats not exactly how the clubs system for drafting a player works.
The Cowboys owner and general manager will certainly still have final say on whom the club drafts in the first round Thursday, but its become clear hes listening more and more to those around him.
Jones will be flanked in the Cowboys' draft room at Valley Ranch by coach Jason Garrett and Jones son, executive vice president Stephen Jones. Also, assistant director of player personnel Will McClay will be in arms reach.
That combination helped influence Jones to pass on Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round of last years draft.
I think the day I came in this building and said what my management style would be, its been the same way, same draft protocol or same draft room decision-making as the first draft I was in, Jones said. That hasnt changed. Theres a lot made and always has been a lot made of lets use this as example. Who is it that makes the call? Well, its been an organizational decision since the day we got here.
After a 12-4 season last year, the Cowboys will draft 27th overall Thursday. Though its hard to believe anyone making public statements this close to the draft, Jones dropped some hints Tuesday as to what Dallas might do with its first-round pick:
Picking so late in the first round, Jerry Jones said, increases the chances Dallas will trade up or down. Jerry Jones indicated that trading down was more likely. We would like to enhance it if the opportunity were there to do it. It is very possible for us to trade down and get a shot at a higher level of second-round pick.
Despite the Cowboys not re-signing league leading rusher DeMarco Murray, Jerry Jones said drafting a running back is not urgent. He added the Cowboys dont have that as a must.
So what do the Cowboys have as a must out of this draft?
We do need to help the defense as a must, Jerry Jones said, by hook or crook.
Cornerback and defensive end top the list of the Cowboys defensive needs.
Jerry Jones said its highly unlikely the Cowboys would trade draft picks for a veteran player at this time of year. Everybody wants draft picks over the next three days, he added. Draft picks are enhanced. Players values are diminished.
Garrett said the Cowboys look at players with character red flags and/or criminal histories on a case-by-case basis.
Jerry Jones was so adamant about explaining how the Cowboys draft process works that he used 882 words and more than six minutes to detail how the club arrives at a final decision when on the clock.
Bottom line, Stephen has absolute, tremendous influence on these decisions, Jerry Jones said. Jason has much influence, every bit as much and more than many of anybody that has ever coached this football team on what we are doing. It would be madness for two people to work as hard as these guys do not to get in and be influenced by what they are telling you. They are not bashful about getting in my ear. And sometimes they dont mince words.
Thats exactly what played out a year ago when Jerry Jones had to be talked out of pulling the trigger on the Aggies quarterback who was in a freefall on draft boards.
Jerry Jones clearly showed a year ago that he hasnt lost his flair for adding the wow factor to the draft.
We look to each other, Jones said, and you did see last year that I basically listened, listened, listened and made a different decision than I might have made on my own.
Stephen Jones said this will be his 26th draft and his role in the war room hasnt changed.
Everybody has their way of influencing, Stephen Jones said. At the end of the day, Jerry makes the final decision, but very rarely does it come to a point where theres a disagreement. Ultimately, theres a consensus and its one we usually feel very good about.
Thats no different with the process of getting to that consensus
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150428-george-trade-up-or-down-...-stay-put-jerry-jones-hints-at-what-cowboys-might-do-in-first-round.ece
IRVING Jerry Jones made it clear Tuesday. Sure, he ultimately has triumph privileges in the Cowboys war room. But thats not exactly how the clubs system for drafting a player works.
The Cowboys owner and general manager will certainly still have final say on whom the club drafts in the first round Thursday, but its become clear hes listening more and more to those around him.
Jones will be flanked in the Cowboys' draft room at Valley Ranch by coach Jason Garrett and Jones son, executive vice president Stephen Jones. Also, assistant director of player personnel Will McClay will be in arms reach.
That combination helped influence Jones to pass on Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round of last years draft.
I think the day I came in this building and said what my management style would be, its been the same way, same draft protocol or same draft room decision-making as the first draft I was in, Jones said. That hasnt changed. Theres a lot made and always has been a lot made of lets use this as example. Who is it that makes the call? Well, its been an organizational decision since the day we got here.
After a 12-4 season last year, the Cowboys will draft 27th overall Thursday. Though its hard to believe anyone making public statements this close to the draft, Jones dropped some hints Tuesday as to what Dallas might do with its first-round pick:
Picking so late in the first round, Jerry Jones said, increases the chances Dallas will trade up or down. Jerry Jones indicated that trading down was more likely. We would like to enhance it if the opportunity were there to do it. It is very possible for us to trade down and get a shot at a higher level of second-round pick.
Despite the Cowboys not re-signing league leading rusher DeMarco Murray, Jerry Jones said drafting a running back is not urgent. He added the Cowboys dont have that as a must.
So what do the Cowboys have as a must out of this draft?
We do need to help the defense as a must, Jerry Jones said, by hook or crook.
Cornerback and defensive end top the list of the Cowboys defensive needs.
Jerry Jones said its highly unlikely the Cowboys would trade draft picks for a veteran player at this time of year. Everybody wants draft picks over the next three days, he added. Draft picks are enhanced. Players values are diminished.
Garrett said the Cowboys look at players with character red flags and/or criminal histories on a case-by-case basis.
Jerry Jones was so adamant about explaining how the Cowboys draft process works that he used 882 words and more than six minutes to detail how the club arrives at a final decision when on the clock.
Bottom line, Stephen has absolute, tremendous influence on these decisions, Jerry Jones said. Jason has much influence, every bit as much and more than many of anybody that has ever coached this football team on what we are doing. It would be madness for two people to work as hard as these guys do not to get in and be influenced by what they are telling you. They are not bashful about getting in my ear. And sometimes they dont mince words.
Thats exactly what played out a year ago when Jerry Jones had to be talked out of pulling the trigger on the Aggies quarterback who was in a freefall on draft boards.
Jerry Jones clearly showed a year ago that he hasnt lost his flair for adding the wow factor to the draft.
We look to each other, Jones said, and you did see last year that I basically listened, listened, listened and made a different decision than I might have made on my own.
Stephen Jones said this will be his 26th draft and his role in the war room hasnt changed.
Everybody has their way of influencing, Stephen Jones said. At the end of the day, Jerry makes the final decision, but very rarely does it come to a point where theres a disagreement. Ultimately, theres a consensus and its one we usually feel very good about.
Thats no different with the process of getting to that consensus
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150428-george-trade-up-or-down-...-stay-put-jerry-jones-hints-at-what-cowboys-might-do-in-first-round.ece
